The Columbus and Greenville Railway (CAGY), was recently named Shortline of the Year at BNSF 's annual Shortline Conference held last month in Irving, Texas.

"CAGY's collaborative spirit, dedicated customer service and its committed partnership with BNSF, are keys in being chosen for this award," said Dean Wise, BNSF vice president, network strategy. "This year marks the 16th year of the BNSF Shortline Conference and the eighth year the company has been recognizing those shortlines who exceed expectations through their innovation, determination, vision and entrepreneurial spirit," said Wise. "CAGY exemplifies that mission and should be commended for their commitment to this industry."

CAGY, which is owned and operated by Genesee and Wyoming Inc. (GWI) and headquartered in Greenwich, Conn., currently operates 163 miles of track between Columbus and Greenville, Miss. They serve a diverse customer base, including chemical, lumber, steel and military shippers. During the past two years, CAGY has more than doubled the carloads handled with BNSF. CAGY recently partnered with BNSF and the Alabama and Gulf Coast Railway to construct and finance a new crossover north of its yard in Columbus. This crossover is expected to improve traffic flows, reduce congestion and facilitate handling increased volumes. In addition to the crossover, CAGY also funded the expansion of its yard tracks to increase carload capacity at Columbus.